Polyvinyl wrapping tape



Sept. 16, 1958 IN V EN TOR.

u/JJEP M 60k 004/ United States Patent POLYVINYL WRAPPING TAPE Joseph M.Gordon, Swampscott, Mass., assignor to Chicago Printed String Company,Chicago, Ill.

Application July 1, 1953, Serial No. 365,360

3 Claims. (Cl. 34-16) This invention relates to a new plastic type ofbinding loop or ribbon for fixing wrappings on packages, or similararticles.

It is among the objects of this invention to provide a binding tape inloop form which has unusual elasticity, extensibility and appearance soas to make it uniquely suitable for use as a binding tape or ribbon forpackages, or similar articles.

Among other objects of the invention is to provide a loop bindingribbon-like tape having elasticity, extensi- 'bility and appearancewhich make it suitable for quickly, attractively and securely wrappingpackages.

Sheet material made from vinyl and similar resins is too expensive to beformed into ribbons for use as a binding tape. If small gauge sheets areemployed to decrease the cost, the migration of plasticizer from thesheet or ribbon soon causes the product to become useless.

One phase of the invention is based on the discovery that ribbon cutsheets of plasticized synthetic polymers of 6-l6 gauge thickness can beformed into a loop which is stretchable and uniquely suited forstretching over packages to attractively secure them in desired formprovided certain precautions are taken. In order to provide a tape whichwill not buckle nor be permanently fixed in extended position whenstretched the ribbon should be at least 6 gauge thickness (.006). If thetape is more than 16 gauge .016") it is too difficult to stretch. Incutting, the tape or ribbon must be cut parallel to the grain, usuallyparallel to the length of the sheet from which it is cut.

Also, according to the invention, sheets must contain about 20-30% ofplasticizer. Ordinarily such sheets contain 10-15% plasticizer but aminimum of plasticizer is required to obtain desired extensibility. Morethan 30% plasticizer results in trouble due to plasticizer migration.Even with 20% plasticizer, the sheets or ribbons cut therefrom have asticky or clammy feel and it has been found that if one side of thesheet or ribbon cut therefrom is embossed to simulate a fibrousstructure, for example, the sticky characteristics of that sidedisappear and simultaneously the ribbon or sheet is given an attractiveappearance. The embossed sheets are cut into ribbons, electro orotherwise welded :at the ends, to form a loop. The looped ribbon ifstretched and fitted over a box or package will tend to recover itsoriginal length and accordingly will hold the package in fixed position.The looped ribbons are selected to fit under two opposed corners of aprismatic box or package so that a great amount of time is saved bymerely snapping the said loops on a package. There is no great tendencyfor the loop to twist. An extremely desirable effect is obtained whichis suitable for gift wrapping.

Suitable thermoplastics for the invention are the polyvinyl type ofresins such as polyvinyl chloride, polyvinyl acetate, polyvinyl alcohol,polyvinyl carbozole and polyethylene type resins including the resinsmade by hydrogenating polymers of butadiene. These resins are allcapable of being colored or pigmented to dark, white or Patented Sept.16, 1958 pastel shades and if desired they may also be obtained intranslucent or transparent condition. In each case, the polymers arecompounded with 2030% plasticizer.

The above described and other objects of the invention will be bestunderstood from the following description of exemplifications of thesame when read in connection with the accompanying drawing in which Fig.l is a view of a portion of an embossed sheet from which a strip of tapeis cut to produce the loop of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a detail view of a loop formed from a strip cut from the sheetof Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 shows the loop strip being stretched to tie a box.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing the completed package.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged cross sectional view along line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

A sheet 10 of polyvinyl resin containing 2030% of plasticizer and havinga thickness of 6l6 gauge is selected and embossed on one side. A surfacetreatment sufficient to give the surface region a frosted or satinyfinish and luster or to give it the appearance of a closely woven fabricis sufficient to remove the undesirable stickiness of the surface whichis to be the outside surface of the loop. The sticky properties of theopposite or under side are not undesirable and in fact provide a loopwhich maintains the position in which it is placed on a package. Thegrain of the sheet 10 can be easily determined if not already known bytesting to find in which direction the sheet tears the easiest. A sheetwill part easier and along a straight line if the tension is appliedperpendicular to the grain. In the sheet 10 shown the grain runs asshown in arrow 11. The embossed side 12 of the sheet is shown. Theembossing may be done before or after cutting to strip form but wherelarge embossing equipment is available it is obviously easier to embossbefore cutting. Embossing is ordinarily done by passing between a pairof rollers, one of which is heated to approximately the softeningtemperature of the plastic and contains the fine line design desired tobe embossed thereon. The design comprises a multiplicity of closelyspaced substantially parallel or concentric fine lines which are adaptedto impart a fabric-like appearance to the sheet.

Thereafter, the sheet is cut along lines 13, 14, 15, etc. to form theribbon-like strips of the desired width. Widths corresponding to thewidth of standard ribbons are very satisfactory.

The strips are then cut to the proper length and united at the ends :asat 21 to form the loop 20. In Fig. 2, the slick, sticky side 19 and theembossed satiny side are both shown.

In selecting a loop' to fit a particular box or package, the diagonalplus the thickness of the package or box is measured :and multiplied bytwo. Then a loop is selected which is 65 to of the measured length. Thebox 30 is then quickly and easily tied by slipping one end 22 of theloop over the corner 31 of the box, stretching by pulling at the end 23of the loop 20 until the said end 23 can be slipped over the corner 32.Y

The flat ribbon form of the band prevents the band from twisting whenbeing placed on the box or package.

The features and principles underlying the invention described :above inconnectionwith specific exemplifications will suggest to those skilledin the art many other modifications thereof. It is accordingly desiredthat the appended claims shall not be limited to any specific featuresor details shown and described in connection with the exemplificationsthereof.

It will be seen that the invention provides a novel wrapping band with adecorated, non-tacky surface of any desirable color, which operates in aquick and desir .3. able way to produce the equivalent of aribbon-tiedpackage.

Iclaim:

1. A 'binding loop or ribbon comprisingia unitary endless relativelynarrow-band of substantially uniform width throughoutits extent having athicknessof approximately 6-16 gauge and .being stretch'able, by about15-35%, said band being formed of a thermoplastic syn-, thetic resincontaining 2030% ofplasticizer, the grain of said band beingparallel tothe edges, thereof, and said band also having an embossed outer surfaceto reduce thetackiness thereof, whereby the-band maybe readily stretched"over a package having relatively movable parts. to hold thepartstogether and the package will 'not adhere to adjacent'conta'cting'objects.

2. A binding loop or ribbon as recited in claim 1 wherein thethermoplastic synthetic resin is a polyvinyl resin.

3. Apackage comprising in combination, a prismatic object'having arectangularshaped'portion, a wrapper aboutsaid object and means to holdsaid wrapper in place about'said object, said means comprising anendless narrow stretchable band having portions thereof passing underdiagonally opposite corner edges of said prismatic object externally ofsaid wrapper with the connecting portions of said band lyingsubstantially parallel to each other inv taut'condition on oneface ofthe wrapper,

said band being of substantially uniform width throughout its extent andhaving a thickness of 6-16 gauge and an elongation of 15-35%, said bandbeing formed of a thermoplastic synthetic resin containing 20-30%plasticizer and having its outer surface embossed to reduce thetackiness thereof, whereby the package will not adhere to contactingobjects and the band may be readily placed on and removed from thewrapped object by stretching the band.

References Citedin thefileof thispatent UNITED STATES PATENTS

1. A BINDING LOOP OR RIBBON COMPRISING A UNITARY ENDLESS RELATIVELYNARROW BAND OF SUBSTANTIALLY UNIFORM WIDTH THROUGHOUT ITS WXTEND HAVINGA THICKNESS OF APPROXIMATELY 6- 16 GAUGE AND BEING STRETCHABLE BY ABOUT15-35%, SAID BAND BEING FORMED OF A THERMOPLASTIC SYNTHETIC RESINCONTAINING 20-30% OF PLASTICIZER, THE GRAIN OF SAID BAND BEING PARALLELTO THE EDGES, THEREOF, AND SAID BAND ALSO HAVING AN EMBOSSED OUTERSURFACE TO REDUCE THE TACKINESS THEREOF, WHEREBY THE BAND MAY BE READILYSTRETCHED OVER A PACKAGE HAVING RELATIVELY MOVABLE PARTS TO HOLD THEPARTS TOGETHER AND THE PACKAGE WILL NOT ADHER TO ADJACENT CONTACTINGOBJECTS.